Opposing this force for good is agbara, meaning spirit or supernatural being. Apart from the natural level of the universe, they also believe that it exists on another level, that of the spiritual forces, the alusi. The alusi are minor deities, and are forces for blessing or destruction, depending on circumstances. They punish social offences and those who unwittingly infringe their privileges. The Igbo use thousands of masks, which incarnate unspecified spirits of the dead, forming a vast community of souls. These masks are used by secret societies for agricultural and funeral ceremonies, in a variety of dramas: social satires, sacred rituals (for ancestors and invocation of the gods), initiation, burials, and public festivals. Some masks were also kept in shrines and meeting houses. .
Igbo men's masking organizations are involved with various types of socialization processes and social control activities. There is a hierarchy of men who earn status as a result of hard work and service to the community, and having enough wealth to pay the fees required for the higher positions. These titled men are identified by facial scarification, as often seen in Igbo masks. Although the style and meaning of Igbo masks are broad, they can be classified into two main groups. .
In the North we have the Igbo Mmwo society that represents the spirits of deceased maidens with masks symbolizing beauty and peacefulness. The mask is worn at the end of the dry season and at funerals. "The beauty of the mask is meant to enchant the people and is also used to exemplify Igbo ideals pertaining to female beauty and mortality"1. Common characteristics found on the masks are small, finely sculptured women's features, which are accentuated by tattoos. Some are also painted chalk white, the color of the spirit. This mask represents a beautiful woman2. The long vertical tribal beauty mark that runs down the center of her forehead indicates that she is from the north.
